This debate is stirred by the city council vote that will decide the fate of the Big Four housing projects. Chief Albert goes to the meeting only to find that “the fix is in” and the meeting convened an hour early, and the hearing is full. The crowd outside grows, and as the anger over the treatment of the city’s poor grows, the police come out with tasers and pepper spray, hitting both Chief and Del. “They’re trying to wash us away son,” Chief said before going to the meeting. Luckily, thanks to the uproar over his previous arrest, Chief and Del avoid getting brought in this time.
At Christmas dinner with his son and daughters – who Del told about the lymphoma that looms over him – Chief calls off his social crusading. He does not, however, give into the despair one would expect from his health condition. “This is not my last Christmas dinner,” he says after surmising everyone’s thoughts due to the enormity of the spread set out for him. “Next year I’ll cook.”
LP and Toni, meanwhile, are trying their best to hack their way through the various forms of institutional opacity that hamper their efforts. LP can’t get any information on possible out of state forensic pathologists who worked in New Orleans following the storm, but after a brainstorming session with Toni he hits upon an inspired idea – look up articles in local papers to see if any stories mention local doctors volunteering after Katrina. It’s a simple and brilliant move that may just pay dividends.
Toni, meanwhile, goes right to the captain of the police to talk about the continued abuses being doled out to her daughter following yet another frivolous traffic stop. She lays out her case and then, furious and frustrated, demands even the smallest offer of concern from the man. On the way out, she sees officer Wilson – the subject of her embryonic class action suit – and meets his gaze unflinchingly.
Her resolve is not so steeled at Christmas dinner with her daughter, though. Almost in tears she suggests that from now on they ought to try to forge new traditions in order to get out from under the shadow of their absent patriarch. Sofia agrees, and the gap between mother and daughter closes a little more. This could be strained, however, if it ever comes to light that Toni has hired a PI to look into Sofia’s 27-year-old boyfriend, though for what purpose it is still unclear.
Terry hears of Toni’s plight, and is sympathetic but in no position to offer aid. He’s having enough trouble just getting his men to show up on time. On Christmas day he wears the ridiculous Christmas tie his kids sent to him, has a brief phone call with them and his ex, and then has to field a murder call.
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